comdtinst m16114.32c - U.S. Coast Guard

Part 2 – Operations and Missions
Chapter 3 – Standards of Boat Operations
Section H. Navigation Rules, Emergencies, and Maneuvers
Introduction
This section provides a brief discussion of the Navigation Rules of the
Road, handling emergency situations, and boat maneuvers.
H .1. Underway All personnel operating Coast Guard boats are obligated to abide by
Rules
Reference (gg). Beyond compliance with these rules, crewmembers
must remain alert for vessels or people in distress, potential obstructions
such as fishing nets or “deadheads,” and the status of local aids to
navigation.
H.2. Lookout
H.2.a. Proper
Lookout
The Coast Guard has had many severe mishaps resulting from lookouts
not properly executing their duties. The Inland and International
N avigational Rules state in Rule 5 “every vessel shall at all times
maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all
available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and
conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk
of collision.”
Keeping a proper lookout (sight and hearing) is a critical boat operating
process that shall be maintained at all times.
A proper lookout means that a three hundred and sixty degree visual scan
from the boat is completed at regular intervals and reports are
communicated, acknowledged and appropriately acted on by the boat
crew.
All members of the boat shall act as lookouts. Proper coordination of
mission tasks may require the Coxswain to direct a specific crewmember
to serve as the primary lookout or to assign personnel specific sectors of
responsibility; in all cases the boat crew should provide back-up lookout
coverage as they are able.
H.2.b Visibility
Coxswains and boat crew members must constantly remain aware of
potential visibility limitations when operating Coast Guard boats. All
seated or standing positions may be restricted by a cabin structure,
console design, appendages such as handrails; gun mounts, or glare from
electronic equipment. Visibility may be restricted when a boat is
transitioning between displacement and non-displacement mode or
during turns when inboard heel may restrict outboard visibility.
Environmental conditions such as rain, snow, sleet, fog and on-shore
background lighting may also obstruct visibility. Safe speed must be
considered at all times.
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